Clematis plant named ‘Snow Bells’

ABSTRACT

A  clematis  plant particularly distinguished by being floriferous and having light green-white to white flowers. In addition, the flowers are visible and not hidden behind the foliage and have a very strong and pleasant fragrance. The plant is evergreen and flowers in late winter.

Genus and species: Clematis henryi.

Variety denomination: ‘Snow Bells’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Clematis,botanically known as Clematis henryi and hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name ‘Snow Bells’. The new cultivar originated from ahybridization made in 2002 in Drunen, The Netherlands. The female parentwas an unnamed, individual plant of Clematis henryi (unpatented) havingwhite flowers, while the male parent was an unnamed, individual plant ofClematis henryi having white flowers (unpatented).

The new cultivar was created in 2002 in Drunen, The Netherlands and hasbeen asexually reproduced repeatedly by softwood cuttings in Boskoop,The Netherlands over a one-year period. The present invention has beenfound to retain its distinctive characteristics through successiveasexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar have been applied for with theEuropean Union on Jan. 9, 2007.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of the new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Drunen and Boskoop, The Netherlands.

-   -   1. Very floriferous with light green-white to white flowers;    -   2. Flowers in late winter;    -   3. The flowers are visible and not hidden behind the foliage;    -   4. The flowers have a very strong and pleasant fragrance; and    -   5. Is evergreen;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new clematis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show overall plant habit including blooms, buds and foliage of theplant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photos are of two-year-oldplants grown in a greenhouse in February.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds andfoliage.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a mature leaf.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the mature flower.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Snow Bells’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inBoskoop, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on one-year-oldun-pinched plants grown in 13-cm pots in a greenhouse in Boskoop, TheNetherlands in February. The average daily temperatures ranged from 3°C. to 12° C. while the average night temperatures ranged from 0° C. to7° C. Color readings were taken in the greenhouse under natural light.Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001 edition).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Ranunculaceae.        -   Botanical.—Clematis henryi.        -   Common name.—Clematis.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—An unnamed, individual plant of Clematis            henryi (unpatented) having white flowers.        -   Male parent.—An unnamed, individual plant of Clematis henryi            having white flowers (unpatented).-   Growth:    -   -   Form.—Perennial vine.        -   Growth habit and vigor.—Upright and climbing with moderate            vigor.        -   Branching habit.—Moderate, stems grow from the base.        -   Height (measured from the top of the soil).—78.4 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—26.3 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 14            months from an un-rooted cutting to a deliverable plant.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Use in containers (13 cm or            larger) and beds; pinching of the terminal apices not            required but will enhance branching; tolerant to rain and            wind.        -   Growth rate.—In the spring, approximately 15 cm per month.        -   Temperature tolerances.—High and low temperature tolerances            unknown; tolerant to high temperatures of at least 35° C.            and to low temperatures for USDA zone 8.        -   Time to initiate root developments.—21 days in the summer at            18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting/young plant.—21 days in the            summer at 18° C.-   Stems:    -   -   Number of lateral branches per plant.—4.        -   Length.—53.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.15 cm.        -   Internode length.—7.9 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 137A (green) while older bark is RHS 200D            (brown).        -   Appearance.—Slightly glossy; lateral stems are slightly            thickened at the nodes and 0.25 cm in diameter.        -   Aspect.—Rounded.        -   Texture.—Young stems are moderately pubescent while older            stems are sparsely covered with very short hairs that are            about 0.4 mm in length and closest to RHS 157D (light            green-white).        -   Strength.—Strong.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Type.—Single.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—16 (8 pairs).        -   Immature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: RHS 143A (green). Lower            surface: RHS 143B (green).        -   Mature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: Between RHS 137A and RHS            193A (green). Lower surface: RHS 137A and RHS 137B. Length:            11.2 cm. Width: 4.5 cm. Shape: Lanceolate to narrow-ovate.            Apex: Apiculate. Base: Cordate to truncate. Margin: Finely            serrate. Texture: Glossy and slightly leathery; sparsely            covered with very short hairs on the upper surface and on            the main and secondary veins of the lower surface; the hairs            are 0.4 mm in length and closest to RHS 157D (light            green-white). Venation: Pinnate with three conspicuous veins            from the base. Venation color: Upper surface: RHS 137A            (green). Lower surface: RHS 143A (green). Durability of            foliage to environmental stresses: High.        -   Petioles.—Length: 3.0 cm. Diameter: 0.15 cm. Color: RHS            143A. Texture: Moderately glossy; sparsely covered with very            short hairs; the hairs are 0.4 mm in length and closest to            RHS 157D (light green-white).        -   Tendrils.—General: The petioles are clasping petioles — are            used to attach itself.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Quantity of buds per lateral stem.—13.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Length.—1.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.1 cm.        -   Color (at tight bud).—RHS 145B (yellow-green) and darker,            RHS 145A, near the petiole.        -   Rate of opening.—Approximately three days.-   Flowers:    -   -   Blooming habit.—Plant blooms once per year in late winter,            from February to March; approximately 75% of the flowers on            a plant are open at a given time.        -   Lastingness of the individual flowers on the plant.—10 days.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds on the plant at a given            time.—52.        -   Arrangement and type.—Axillary with terminal, solitary            (single) flowers.        -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—13.        -   Fragrance.—Present; a strong and very pleasant fresh acid to            acidic sweet fragrance similar to Daphne odora.        -   Aspect.—Drooping.        -   Shape.—Campanulate.        -   Diameter.—2.6 cm.        -   Depth (height).—2.0 cm.        -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rotate, 4-parted. Quantity of tepals            per flower: 4. Appearance: Dull and smooth. Shape: Ovate.            Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Densely            pubescent; hairs are very short, about 0.2 mm in length and            RHS 155C (white) to RHS 157A (green-white). Length: 2.2 cm.            Width: 1.2 cm. Color (when opening): Upper surface: RHS 145B            (yellow-green) and RHS 145C (yellow-green). Lower surface:            RHS 145B (yellow-green). Color (fully opened): Upper            surface: RHS 155C (white) to RHS 157A (green-white) and            slightly darker towards the tip, RHS 150D. Lower surface:            RHS 145B (yellow-green) and lighter towards the tip, RHS            145C.        -   Pedicels.—Length: 3.2 cm. Diameter: 0.15 cm. Angle: Average            of 90 degrees. Strength: Strong. Color: RHS 141B (green).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—55 per flower. Anther: Shape: Basifixed, linear.            Length: 0.15 cm. Color: RHS 160C (greyed-yellow). Filament:            General: Glands at the base of the filaments release a            colorless sticky substance when the filaments are removed.            Length: 1.2 cm. Color: RHS 157A (green-white) to RHS 150D            (yellow-green). Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: RHS            160C (greyed-yellow).        -   Pistil quantity.—75 per flower.        -   Pistil length.—1.3 cm.        -   Stigma shape.—Narrow conical.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 150D (yellow-green).        -   Style length.—1.2 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS 157A (green-white).        -   Ovary color.—RHS 157A (green-white).-   Fruit/seed set: None observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: Highly resistant to pests and    diseases.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Snow Bells’ differs from the female parent, an unnamed individual plantof Clematis henryi (unpatented) in that ‘Snow Bells’ is floriferous andhas flowers with a strong fragrance, while the female parent is lessfloriferous and has flowers that are slightly fragrant.

‘Snow Bells’ differs from the male parent, an unnamed, individual plantof Clematis henryi (unpatented) in that ‘Snow Bells’ is floriferous andhas flowers that are light green-white to white with a strong fragrance,while the male parent is less floriferous and has faintly fragrantflowers.

‘Snow Bells’ differs from the commercial Clematis urophylla ‘WinterBeauty’ (unpatented) in that ‘Snow Bells’ flowers in late winter and hassimple leaves, while ‘Winter Beauty’ flowers in early winter and hasternate leaves. Additionally, ‘Snow Bells’ is floriferous and hasflowers with a strong fragrance, while ‘Winter Beauty’ is lessfloriferous and has flowers with no fragrance.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Clematis plant as shown and describedherein.